Because about five years ago, I read the line, “Joy is an act of resistance,” and I haven’t stopped thinking about it since.

I’ve spent most of my life seeking everyday magic and noticing those luminous in-between moments that, when strung together, make a life. A quiet cup of tea. Kids laughing. Birds at the feeder. Good friends. Trees that take your breath away. Pretty light. All those wonderfully ordinary things that stop you in your tracks and make you think, how lucky am I to be here?!

I don’t want to stick my head in the sand and pretend everything is fine (it clearly isn’t!). But I refuse to let what is hard consume all my thoughts, time and energy.

To me, being a Joyful Activist means paying attention to and falling in love with what makes the world wonderful. It means telling the truth about what threatens it, while also looking for hopeful, joyful ways to care for it and each other.

So put the kettle on and stay awhile. Let’s talk about climate and community, grief and hope, walks in the woods, everyday magic and whatever else catches our attention along the way.

There is work to do, yes. But let’s remember what we’re doing it for.